防盗章节请勿订阅，恢复之后刷新即可

　　Weshouldstartback，”Garedurgedasthewoodsbegantogrowdarkaroundthem.

　　“Thewildlingsaredead.”

　　“Dothedeadfrightenyou?”SerWaymarRoyceaskedwithjustthehintofasmile.

　　asanoldman，pastfifty，andhehadseenthelordlingscomeandgo.“Deadisdead，”hesaid.“Wehavenobusinesswiththedead.”

　　“Aretheydead?”Royceaskedsoftly.“Whatproofhavewe?”

　　“Willsawthem，”Garedsaid.“Ifhesaystheyaredead，that’sproofenoughforme.”

　　ishedithadbeenlaterratherthansooner.“Mymothertoldmethatdeadmensingnosongs，”heputin.

　　Mywetnursesaidthesamething，Will，”Roycereplied.“Neverbelieveanythingyouhearatawoman’rearethingstobelearnedevenfromthedead.”Hisvoiceechoed，tooloudinthetwilitforest.

　　“Wehavealongridebeforeus，”Garedpointed1out.“Eightdays，nightisfalling.”SerWaymarRoyceglancedattheskywithdisinterest.“youunmannedbythedark，Gared?”

　　WillcouldseethetightnessaroundGared’smouth，theedhadspentfortyyearsintheNight’sWatch，manandboy，erthewoundedpride，couldtasteit;anervoustensionthatcameperilousclosetofear.

　　firsttimehehadbeensentbeyond，alltheoldstorieshadcomerushingback，asaveteranofahundredrangingsbynow，andtheendlessdarkwilderedaystheyhadbeenriding，northandnorthwestandthennorthagain，fartherandfartherfromtheWall，ldwindwasblowingoutofthenorth，day，Willhadfeltasthoughsomethingwerewatchinghim，lwantednothingsomuchastoridehellbentforthesafetyoftheWall，butthatwasnotafeelingtosharewithyourcommander.

　　Especiallynotacommanderlikethisone.

　　asahandsomeyouthofeighteen，grey-ntedonhishugeblackdestrier，oreblackleatherboots，blackwoolen8pants，blackmoleskingloves，andafinesupple9cWaymarhadbeenaSwornBrotheroftheNight’sWatchforlessthanhalfayear，eastinsofarashiswardrobewasconcerned.

　　Hiscloakwashiscrowningglory;sable11，thickandblackandsoftassin.“Bethekilledthemallhimself，hedid，”Garedtoldthebarracksoverwine，“twistedtheirlittleheadsoff，ourmightywarrior.”shardtotakeordersfromamanyoulaughedatinyourcups，edmusthavefeltthesame.

　　“Mormontsaidasweshouldtrackthem，andwedid，”Garedsaid.“They’yshan’re’n’tsnows，wecouldbeafortnightgettingback，andsnow’rseenanicestorm，mylord?”

　　tudiedthedeepeningtwilight12inthathalf-bored，half-lhadriddenwiththeknightlongenoughtounderstandthatitwasbestnottointerrupthimwhenhelookedlikethat.“Tellmeagainwhatyousaw，venothingout.”

　　WillhadbeenahunterbeforehejoinedtheNight’l，listerfreeridershadcaughthimred-handedintheMallisters’ownwoods，skinningoneoftheMallisters’

　　ownbucks13，necouldmovethroughthewoodsassilentasWill，andithadnottakentheblackbrotherslongtodiscoverhistalent.“Thecampistwomilesfartheron，overthatridge14，hardbesideastream，”Willsaid.“re’seightofthem，yputupalean-snow’sprettywellcovereditnow，ireburning，ivingmaneverlaysostill.”

　　“Didyouseeanyblood?”

　　“Well，no，”Willadmitted.

　　“Didyouseeanyweapons?”

　　“Someswords，vy-looking，double-bladed，asonthegroundbesidehim，rightbyhishand.”

　　“Didyoumakenoteofthepositionofthebodies?”

　　Willshrugged16.“len，like.”

　　“Orsleeping，”Roycesuggested.

　　“Fallen，”Willinsisted.“There’sonewomanupanironwood，half-r-eyes.”Hesmiledthinly.“nIgotcloser，Isawthatshewasn’tmovingneither.”Despitehimself，heshivered.

　　“Youhaveachill?”Royceasked.

　　“Some，”Willmuttered.“Thewind，m’lord.”

　　Theyoungknightturnedbacktohisgrizzledman-at-st-fallenleaveswhisperedpastthem，andRoyce’sdestriermovedrestlessly.“Whatdoyouthinkmighthavekilledthesemen，Gared?”djustedthedrapeofhislongsablecloak.

　　“Itwasthecold，”Garedsaidwithironcertainty.“Isawmenfreezelastwinter，andtheonebefore，ryonetalksaboutsnowsfortyfootdeep，andhowtheicewindcomeshowlingoutofthenorth，tealsuponyouquieterthanWill，andatfirstyoushiverandyourteethurns，nitgetsinsideyouandstartstofillyouup，andafterawhileyoudon’’ysayyoudon’styougoweakanddrowsy，andeverythingstartstofade，andthenit’ceful，like.”“Sucheloquence19，Gared，”SerWaymarobserved.“Ineversuspectedyouhaditinyou.”

　　“I’vehadthecoldinmetoo，lordling.”Garedpulledbackhishood，givingSerWaymaragoodlonglookatthestumps20wherehisearshadbeen.“Twoears，threetoes，oundmybrotherfrozenathiswatch，withasmileonhisface.”

　　SerWaymarshrugged.“Yououghtdressmorewarmly，Gared.”

　　Garedglaredatthelordling，thescarsaroundhisearholesflushedredwithangerwhereMaesterAemonhadcuttheearsaway.“We’llseehowwarmyoucandresswhenthewintercomes.”Hepulleduphishoodandhunched21overhisgarron，silentandsullen22.

　　“IfGaredsaiditwasthecold…”Willbegan.

　　“Haveyoudrawn23anywatchesthispastweek，Will?”

　　“Yes，m’lord.”twasthemandrivingat?

　　“AndhowdidyoufindtheWall?”

　　“Weeping，”Willsaid，awitclearenough，nowthatthelordlinghadpointeditout.

　　“Theycouldn’asn’tcoldenough.”

　　Roycenodded.“’vehadafewlightfroststhispastweek，andaquickflurryofsnownowandthen，cladinfurandleather，letmeremindyou，withshelternearathand，andthemeansofmakingfire.”Theknight’ssmilewascocksure.“Will，uldseethesedeadmenformyself.”

　　orderhadbeengiven，andhonorboundthemtoobey.

　　Willwentinfront，hghtsnowhadfallenthenightbefore，andtherewerestonesandrootsandhiddensinkslyingjustunderitscrust，WaymarRoycecamenext，warhorsewasthewrongmountforranging，oldman-at-armsmutteredtohimselfasherode.

　　cloudlessskyturnedadeeppurple，thecolorofanoldbruise26，lf-lwasgratefulforthelight.

　　“Wecanmakeabetterpacethanthis，surely，”Roycesaidwhenthemoonwasfullrisen.

　　“Notwiththishorse，”rhadmadehiminsolent27.“Perhapsmylordwouldcaretotakethelead?”

　　SerWaymarRoycedidnotdeign28toreply.

　　Somewhereoffinthewoodawolfhowled.

　　Willpulledhisgarronoverbeneathanancientgnarledironwoodanddismounted.

　　“Whyareyoustopping?”SerWaymarasked.

　　“Bestgotherestofthewayonfoot，m’’sjustoverthatridge.”

　　Roycepausedamoment，staringoffintothedistance，greatsablecloakstirredbehindlikesomethinghalf-alive.

　　“There’ssomethingwronghere，”Garedmuttered.

　　Theyoungknightgavehimadisdainfulsmile.“Isthere?”

　　“Can’tyoufeelit?”Garedasked.“Listentothedarkness.”

　　ryearsintheNight’sWatch，twasit?

　　“chsoundisitthatunmansyouso，Gared?”WhenGareddidnotanswer，iedthedestriersecurelytoalow-hanginglimb，wellawayfromtheotherhorses，elsglitteredinitshilt，asasplendidweapon，castle-forged，andnew-ldoubtedithadeverbeenswunginanger.

　　“Thetreespressclosehere，”Willwarned.“Thatswordwilltangle31youup，m’teraknife.”

　　“IfIneedinstruction，Iwillaskforit，”theyounglordsaid.“Gared，rdthehorses.”

　　Gareddismounted.“Weneedafire.I’llseetoit.”

　　“Howbigafoolareyou，oldman?Ifthereareenemiesinthiswood，afireisthelastthingwewant.”

　　“There’ssomeenemiesafirewillkeepaway，”Garedsaid.“Bearsanddirewolvesand…andotherthings…”

　　SerWaymar’smouthbecameahardline.“Nofire.”

　　Gared’shoodshadowedhisface，asashort，uglything，itsgripdiscoloredbysweat，itsedgenickedfromharduse，butWillwouldnothavegivenanironbobforthelordling’slifeifGaredpulleditfromitsscabbard.

　　FinallyGaredlookeddown.“Nofire，”hemuttered，lowunderhisbreath.

　　Roycetookitforacquiescence32andturnedaway.“Leadon，”hesaidtoWill.

　　Willthreadedtheirwaythroughathicket33，thenstartedupthesloerthethincrustofsnow，thegroundwasdampandmuddy，slickfooting，lmadenosoundasheclimbed.

　　Behindhim，heheardthesoftmetallic34slitherofthelordling’sringmail，therustleofleaves，andmutteredcursesasreachingbranchesgrabbedathislongswordandtugged35onhissplendidsablecloak.

　　erthethincrustofsnow，thegroundwasdampandmuddy，slickfooting，lmadenosoundasheclimbed.

　　Behindhim，heheardthesoftmetallicslitherofthelordling’sringmail，therustleofleaves，andmutteredcursesasreachingbranchesgrabbedathislongswordandtuggedonhissplendidsablecloak.

　　Thegreatsentinelwasrightthereatthetopoftheridge，whereWillhadknownitwouldbe，lslidinunderneath36，flatonhisbelly37inthesnowandthemud，andlookeddownontheemptyclearingbelow.

　　nlightshonedownontheclearing，theashesofthefirepit，thesnow-coveredlean-to，thegreatrock，thelittlehalf-frozenstream.

　　Everythingwasjustasithadbeenafewhoursago.

　　thebodiesweregone.

　　“Gods!”toodtherebesidethesentinel，longswordinhand，hiscloakbillowingbehindhimasthewindcameup，outlinednoblyagainstthestarsforalltosee.

　　“Getdown!”Willwhisperedurgently.“Something’swrong.”

　　ookeddownattheemptyclearingandlaughed.“Yourdeadmenseemtohavemovedcamp，Will.”

　　Will’eyessweptbackandforth40overtheabandonedcampsite，gedouble-bladedbattle-axe，stilllyingwherehehadseenitlast，luableweapon…“Onyourfeet，Will，”SerWaymarcommanded.“There’n’thaveyouhidingunderabush.”

　　Reluctantly，Willobeyed.

　　SerWaymarlookedhimoverwithopendisapproval41.“illfindthesemen.”Heglancedaround.“uickaboutit.

　　Lookforafire.”

　　Willturnedaway，enttothetree，avaulting42grey-greensentinel，nhishandswerestickywithsap，rfilledhisgut43likeamealhecouldnotdigest.

　　Hewhisperedaprayertothenamelessgodsofthewood，tasteofcoldironinhismouthgavehimcomfort.

　　Downbelow，thelordlingcalledoutsuddenly，“Whogoesthere?”toppedclimbing;helistened;hewatched.

　　Thewoodsgaveanswer:therustleofleaves，theicyrushofthestream，adistanthoot45ofasnowowl.

　　TheOthersmadenosound.

　　urnedhishead，nchesstirredgentlyinthewind，lopenedhismouthtocalldownawarning，hapsithadonlybeenabird，areflectiononthesnow，thadheseen，afterall?

　　“Will，whereareyou?”SerWaymarcalledup.“Canyouseeanything?”Hewasturninginaslowcircle，suddenlywary25，usthavefeltthem，rewasnothingtosee.“Answerme!Whyisitsocold?”

　　vering，ouldfeelthesweet，stickysaponhischeek.

　　l，itwas，andgauntandhardasoldbones，armorseemedtochangecolorasitmoved;hereitwaswhiteasnew-fallensnow，thereblackasshadow，everywheredappledwiththedeepgrey-patternsranlikemoonlightonwaterwitheverystepittook.

　　WillheardthebreathgooutofSerWaymarRoyceinalonghiss48.“Comenofarther，”voicecrackedlikeaboy’hrewthelongsablecloakbackoverhisshoulders，tofreehisarmsforbattle，asverycold.

　　tshandwasalongswordlikenonethatWillhadeverseen.

　　asalivewithmoonlight，translucent49，ashardofcrystalsothinthatitseemedalmosttovanishwhenseenedge-rewasafaintblueshimmertothething，aghost-lightthatplayedarounditsedges，andsomehowWillknewitwassharperthananyrazor.

　　SerWaymarmethimbravely.“Dancewithmethen.”Heliftedhisswordhighoverhishead，handstrembledfromtheweightofit，inthatmoment，Willthought，hewasaboynolonger，butamanoftheNight’sWatch.

　　lsawitseyes;blue，deeperandbluerthananyhumaneyes，yfixed51onthelongswordtremblingonhigh，aheartbeathedaredtohope.

　　Theyemergedsilentlyfromtheshadows，eeofthem…four…five…SerWaymarmayhavefeltthecoldthatcamewiththem，butheneversawthem，hisdeath，hivered，andhuggedthetree，andkeptthesilence.

　　Thepaleswordcameshiveringthroughtheair.

　　nthebladesmet，therewasnoringofmetalonmetal;onlyahigh，thinsoundattheedgeofhearing，cecheckedasecondblow，andathird，therflurryofblows，andhefellbackagain.

　　Behindhim，toright，toleft，allaroundhim，thewatchersstoodpatient，faceless，silent，theshiftintheymadenomovetointerfere.

　　Againandagaintheswordsmet，untilWillwaWaymarwaspantingfromtheeffortnow，bladewaswhitewithfrost;theOther’sdancedwithpalebluelight.

　　ThenRoyce’paleswordbitthroughtheringmailbeneathhisarm.

　　teamedinthecold，Waymar’moleskinglovecameawaysoakedwithred.

　　TheOthersaidsomethinginalanguagethatWilldidnotknow;hisvoicewaslikethecrackingoficeonawinterlake，andthewordsweremocking.

　　SerWaymarRoycefoundhisfury.“ForRobert!”heshouted，andhecameupsnarling52，liftingthefrost-coveredlongswordwithbothhandsaOther’sparrywasalmostlazy.

　　Whenthebladestouched，thesteelshattered.

　　Ascreamechoedthroughtheforestnight，andthelongswordshiveredintoahundredbrittle53pieces，cewenttohisknees，shrieking56，andcoveredhiseyes.

　　Bloodwelledbetweenhisfingers.

　　Thewatchersmovedforwardtogether，rdsroseandfell，palebladesslicedthroughringmailasifitweresilk.

　　beneathhim，heheardtheirvoicesandlaughtersharpasicicles.

　　Whenhefoundthecouragetolookagain，alongtimehadpassed，andtheridgebelowwasempty.

　　Hestayedinthetree，scarcedaringtobreathe，whilethemooncreptslowlyacrosstheblacksky.

　　Finally，hismusclescramping57andhisfingersnumb58withcold，heclimbeddown.

　　Royce’sbodylayfacedowninthesnow，ngdeadlikethat，y.

　　Hefoundwhatwasleftoftheswordafewfeetaway，lknelt，lookedaroundwarily59，edwouldknowwhattomakeofit，andifnothim，ldGaredstillbewaitingwiththehorses?Hehadtohurry.

　　WaymarRoycestoodoverhim.

　　Hisfineclotheswereatatter，ard50fromhisswordtransfixedtheblindwhitepupilofhislefteye.

　　aw.

　　g，eleganthandsbrushedhischeek，ywereglovedinthefinestmoleskinandstickywithblood，yetthetouchwasicycold.

　　brushedhischeek，ywereglovedinthefinestmoleskinandstickywithblood，yetthetouchwasicycold.